The Bid

Chapter Three

The unfiltered sun pouring in through my window causes me to stir, my eyes heavy and my body heavier.

Everything hurts.

Drawing a breath I instantly wince and cry out which seems to summon whoever it is outside my bedroom door.

The door creaks open and I look over to see Declan enter, holding a fresh ice pack and medicine.

"Your father is dealing with your arrangements and he dragged Teagan along with him for once." He speaks before I can even ask.

Of course he would be eager to finish the deal, whatever the terms are, he stands to gain a lot from it based off what he said.

With all my strength I try to sit up and prop myself against the headboard but it's no use. I just want to cry and scream, curse everything for existing.

"Hold on let me help you. It's alright."

I nod and allow Declan to lift me up carefully, somehow despite being a giant he is gentle when he wants to be.

He hands me a glass of water and pills to take the edge off while applying the ice packs to my body. The chill makes me shiver but I soon settle down, used to it by now.

"He really went on a rampage. Are you ok internally? Any coughing up blood or anything. Tell me and we will go straight to the—"

I hold up my hand as I finish off the glass of water before speaking to him.

"No, he's too good to allow that to happen. Too much practice. I'll be fine."

He lets out a loud sigh as if the weight of the world is coming down on him.

"I wish you'd just let me kill him."

We lock eyes for a moment, for a split second I think about it but I know it's no use. His death equals ours. My brothers. Declan.

My father has too many failsafes in place to allow anyone of our family to take him out. In the event of his death by our hand, we would immediately be assassinated and we don't even know by who.

With his deep connections there's no escape, no outlet, nothing. We have no choice but to live with the monster.

"No. I won't sacrifice any of you for him and I damn sure won't give him my life. Not more than I already have."

Declan nods and walks out of the room before returning with a tray of fresh fruit that the kitchen had prepared.

"I never thought last night was going to go the way it did. He never even told me what he was up to because if I had known...." He trails off, sitting in the chair at the edge of my bed.

"It's done. No use in crying about it."

Despite Declan being my fathers right hand, he has never fully been loyal to him, not in the way he thinks. He does all of my fathers dirty work, sure, but when it comes to us...my fathers children...he's never agreed.

We sit in silence for a while as I try and eat my fruit. The taste is so bland because all I feel is pain.

Eventually the pain medication kicks in and I'm able to get up and at least use the bathroom, brush my teeth and draw a bath for myself after Declan leaves.

As I sit in the bubbly water I can't help but recall last night. The voice that called out, the man that paid for me, the look in his eyes as I sat back in my own seat.

Cold eyes. Dangerous eyes. A killer.

I shudder and push the thoughts aside and instead focus on cleaning myself. From what Declan said, I have less than a week before I'm sent off and my father is rid of me like he wants to be.

And I already know it's going to be the longest week of my life.

The next few days are spent with me healing and slowly trying to pack my things. Except I'm only allowed to take anything I bought on my own.

So I have one small suitcase filled with all of my possessions.

Teagan visits me as much as he can but now that I'm out of the way, our father has been giving him special attention.

I could see just what type of attention that is too when he slapped my brother across the face at dinner last night.

Not another finger will be laid on me because I can't be 'damaged goods' when I arrive to be traded off for whatever my father got in return.

Too bad for him my body is covered in concealed bruises that aren't going to heal anytime soon.

"Do you have your gun?" Teagan asks, looking at my purse and packed bag as we stand in my room.

I nod while applying cream to my bruises to help heal.

"And your blade? The one I gave you?"

"Yes I have it right here." I lift my pillow to show him.

Despite my 'princess' treatment by my father, as he liked to call it, Teagan always made sure I was prepared to survive in our world. Taught me how to take care of myself, how to land a hit, how to kill.

Just the thought makes me want to wretch.

I was never fully exposed to the bloody side of our lifestyle. Instead I was caged and smothered with lessons, etiquette, how to be a proper woman.

All bullshit.

"Keep that on you at all times, Ash. If anything and I mean anything happens—"

"I know. I won't hesitate. I always keep it right here when I'm out." I pat my thigh where the concealed blade holster is.

He seems satisfied with my answer and we just settle into normal conversation. He explains everything he knows about London and the places he's been. Tells me that I'll fit right in.

I've never fit in anywhere. I've always just been molded into place.

In the morning I am to wake up and head to the airport where a private jet will take me to Birmingham. Apparently I'm to be kept there somewhere until further notice, whatever that means.

To me it's just another cage. Another four walls that I'll be confined to.

I won't ever get to work at the club again or feel that freedom just for one night. I hardly even have anything now and definitely no money.

'Women don't need money. They own you now so they can take care of you.' My father spat in my face before slamming his office door closed.

That was two days ago so I've had time to come to terms with the fact that I'm basically broke with nothing to my name except a few clothing items, a toothbrush and a hairbrush.

Some rare and precious Diamond I am.